Carom
BLANKENBERGE - The best Belgian all round billiard player, Frédéric Caudron, extended his status on the final day of the Belgian championships with two more titles. The world's number one in three cushion closed the Multi championships in Blankenberge with a demonstration of his high class. In a more than full house, the the brilliant Caudron not only prolonged his title in three cushion, he also took the title in the one cushion discipline. The superb final rush of the Belgian phenomenon was the climax after eight days of billiards. For the 8th time Caudron was the best in the major discipline with 1.985 of average, beating Jef Philipoom in the final match, for the 21th time Caudron triumphed in one cushion with an unbeaten performance and 22.22 of average, ahead of Eddy Leppens and Maarten Janssen. With the two titles on the final day, he brought his total of Belgian titles to 90.
The peak form on the final day made Caudron very satisfied. ,,It's good to start the new year like this'', he started his interview in front of the Kozoom cameras. ,,I faced two strong opponents in the finales, Eddy Leppens and Jef Philipoom. The three cushion game went well from the start: I was ten points ahead at the break and could finish it off with a run of fifteen.''
In the semi-finals Caudron had dealt with Peter Ceulemans, who could not shine on the final day after a promising run-up. Caudron overrun Ceulemans 40-17 in 18. Jef Philipoom also got the better of an opponent who missed the final sprint. Steven van Acker was beaten 40-29 in 28. To finish, Steven Van Acker took third place by a victory over Peter Ceulemans: 40-37 in 27.
The crowded house at the Blankenberge Casino cheered especially for the undisputed emperor of the Belgian championships. Caudron confessed that he would like to play more game types at the Multi's. ,,I quit with the balk-line games a few years ago, because it is not compatible with three cushion. As long as the formula remains the Multis as it is now, I will not change my mind. Only if they separate three cushion and the other disciplines, for example in two weeks, I will join in again with the balk-lines.''
The eight-day tournament, nevertheless, proved that the formula is valued by a big audience. According to the organization, nearly 3.000 people came to watch the games. That's a record for the Multi's and a reward for the hard work the new organization delivered.
Frédéric Caudron claimed, in the run-up to the three cushion final, his 21st title in one cushion in a decisive match against Eddy Leppens. The champagne cork flew through the arena a bit too early, but Caudron was not distracted by it and won 150-100 in eight innings. Eddy Leppens therefor missed his third title in this championship after winning the 47/2 and 47/1 balklines. He was a bit disappointed an alleged carom in the final part, when the score was 102-100. ,,That is not to say that I had won otherwise'', Leppens emphasized.
Caudron's hegemony in one cushion started in 1991, when he also bested Leppens for his title with 10.92 and Eddy Merckx finished third. Three times, Caudron was interrupted by Leppens in the 25 years thereafter, also three times by De Backer. The highest average in Caudron's winning streak was the 27.27 in 2002. The champion's average now was 22.22, after matches to 150 caroms in 4, 9, 6 and 8 innings.
Peter Debaes took the title in 5 pins on the last day of the tournament. The Roeselare player defeated his club mate Peter Mostrey, who was the defending title holder. The two best Belgians in this discipline met in the finals after victories over Martin Spoormans and Mathy Monnissen in the semi-finals.
The final was exciting until the final points. Peter Debaes twice took the lead, but Mostrey came back twice. The fifth set had to decide: Debaes won after a slightly better final sprint.
The scores: 60-26, 41-60, 60-47, 48-60, 60-53.
Frédéric Caudron in his brilliant final rush in three cushion
Eddy Leppens took two titles for the first time in his career
Sports director Patrik Mintjens looked back to the highlights of the tournament:
,,The title Andy Bond took in the free game is promising and may inspire the Belgian youth. Andy came already to the highest league when he was 15, he's is now 23 and has developed very well.''
,,The new faces in three-cushion with Peter Ceulemans and Steven van Acker in the last four. The elimination of Merckx, Leppens and Forthomme in the early stage was one of the surprises of the championship.''
,,Johan Devos was one of the players who finished a match in one inning. He even did it against Patrick Niessen in 47/2 with 300 caroms from the break. The players who managed to make a one-inning match were De Bondt, Devos, Janssen and Niessen.''
,,The magnificent match Jef Philipoom realized in the preliminaries of three cushion, in 11 innings, was one of the great moments in the tournament, but of course, also the 12 innings match Caudron did in the final.''
,,The packed stands, with such a great audience was a great boost for the tournament in this format. I estimate that there were around 2.800 people over eight days. That is in my opinion more than ever at the Multi's.''
Patrik Mintjens sees as one of the 'shortcomings' the long matches, which were disturbing the schedule. ,,We will come together in January to evaluate. Then we will see what we need to change if necessary. I would say in my personal opinion that we can shorten the matches. I think that to separate the three cushion from the other disciplines will not have a chance of succeeding. We know that there is a mixed audience, who want to watch both the three cushion and the classic games. Maybe we could consider to bring the field of participants in three cushion to sixteen players.''
The final score in the three cushion:
1 Frédéric Caudron
2 Jef Philipoom
3 Steven van Acker
4 Peter Ceulemans
5 to 8:
Eddy Leppens, Davy Havere, Patrick Kesteloot, Frédéric Mottet.
Ranking one cushion:
1 Frédéric Caudron 8-22.22-101
2 Eddy Leppens 6-11.22-90
3 Maarten Janssen 4-7.13-36
4 Martin Spoormans 1-5.65-25
5 Patrick Niessen 1-5.28-36
Peter Ceulemans, shiny tournament, minor finish
Steven van Acker closed the final day with a third place
Full stands to watch the champion in the final matches
The final players in the 5 pins: Peter Debaes as the winner (second left), Peter Mostrey, Martin Spoormans and Mathy Monnissen